Vizslas are gun dogs with excellent hunting skills to catch deer, wild boars, and other animals like foxes and birds. They are usually very energetic dogs who need the opportunity to work hard every day. Vizslas are excellent family pets as well. But they are a high-maintenance dog breed that needs extra care. So, managing Vizsla puppies can be a tedious job. Thus, spaying or neutering your Vizsla is the best way to avoid such a problem.
What is spaying and neutering of Vizsla? Spaying is a surgical procedure in which the surgeon removes the reproductive organs of Vizsla. At the same time, neutering is the surgical removal of reproductive organs for males.
If you have no interest in breeding your dog and inviting new puppies, this is the perfect solution. These processes are beneficial to manage the behavior and health of your Vizsla as well. But still, it has some drawbacks.
Thus, this post will talk about spaying and neutering in Vizsla. Hopefully, it clears your doubts about the benefits, drawbacks, and things you should care for in spayed or neutered dogs.
What Is Vizsla Spaying And Neutering?
You can spay or neuter your Vizsla at any point in your life. The process of Vizsla spay surgery removes the ovaries, uterus, and other female reproductive organs from a dog to prevent them from becoming pregnant. Vizsla neuter surgery, on the other hand, removes only the testicles. Vizslas typically recover quickly from Vizsla spay or Vizsla neuter surgery and can return to their normal activities within a week.
When Should I Spay Or Neuter My Vizsla?
Vizslas typically go through their first heat cycle at around six months, although it can happen as early as five or seven months. The Vet recommends spaying Vizsla the first heat cycle (within a few weeks of turning six months old) to prevent unwanted breeding and unexpected litter.
Similarly, Vizsla males mature sexually as early as five to six months. And this is the perfect time for neutering them.
Why Should I Spay Or Neuter My Vizsla?
Although Vizslas are friendly, beautiful, and easy-going, still, they are high maintenance. So, you need to invest a lot of money, time, and love to give a qualitative life to this breed. And adding up another dog is a huge step to take.
Thus, if you aren’t ready for puppies, you need to spay or neuter your Vizsla. Further, some reasons why you need to spay or neuter your Vizsla are:
Spaying Or Neutering Prevents Chances Of Cancer In Vizsla
A fixed Vizsla is much less likely to get cancer. But unfixed Vizslas with an active reproductive system can contract many cancers during their lifespan, including bladder, breast, and testicular cancers in males. Females without spaying also run the risk of getting mammary gland tumors which could turn into malignant ones without surgery.
Vizslas are prone to prostate cancer, which is more common in males, especially when you fail to neuter your Vizsla before six months of age.
However, Vizslas are also prone to cancer and reproductive cancers like uterine and ovarian cysts. These types of tumors often go unnoticed due to Vizsla’s short lifespan, but spaying is a helpful way for Vizsla owners to reduce Vizsla’s risk of developing these types of cancers.
Spaying Or Neutering Prevents Behavioral Problems
Vizsla behavior may be due to changes in hormone levels. Spaying or neutering your Vizslas will help reduce the likelihood of aggressive behaviors and make them better pets overall.
Reducing behavioral problems like urine marking indoors as well as excessive barking at strangers and other dogs outside your home. Vizslas can be really territorial, and these behaviors worsen in unfixed dogs.
Spaying Or Neutering Prevents Diseases
If you fail to spay or neuter your Vizsla, they can develop diseases such as pyometra, mammary tumors, and prostate cancer. Spaying or neutering Vizslas will also prevent unplanned Vizsla litters that end up in shelters. Vizslas are naturally very active dogs. Vizsla owners need to take extra precautions for dogs without these surgeries. Thus, the owners should constantly supervise their Vizlas so that they can’t run off or escape.
Spaying Or Neutering Prevents Hairfall
Vizslas are famous for their long, thick coat that varies in color. One downside to this is the excessive shedding and hair fall throughout your home when they groom themselves. Spaying or neutering a Vizsla will help prevent some of this hair from falling by limiting hormone production, which can cause excessive shedding.
Spaying Or Neutering Prevents Puppies
One of the main reasons Vizsla owners spay or neuter their Vizslas is to prevent unwanted puppies. Vizslas, like most breeds, come with a lot of genetic health problems that pass from grandparents to parents –some are hereditary while others have multiple causes. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to prevent Vizsla puppies born with genetic health problems or behavioral issues.
Spaying Or Neutering Prevents Accidents
Spaying or neutering a Vizsla also prevents her from wandering away searching for a mate and protects them from car accidents or contracting diseases like rabies. Plus, it gives Vizsla owners peace of mind knowing that Vizsla will not be knocking up the neighbor’s Vizsla.
Spaying Or Neutering Keeps Vizsla Calm
Vizslas are also prone to several behavioral and physical problems that spaying or neutering can help prevent, like dominance aggression, hyperactivity, marking territory outside the Vizsla’s own property, and urine-marking indoors. Thus, it is best to spay or neuter your dog as early as six months of age. Vizslas that are older than this age can still have a successful surgery, but their recovery time is longer and more difficult because of the Vizsla’s size.
How Long Does It Take For Vizslas To Recover From After Surgeries?
If we’re talking about the recovery process, Vizsla’s neutering is relatively painless and straightforward. On average, Vizsla takes less than two weeks to recover from neutering surgery if they are in good health. But they need special attention and care after these procedures. So, the owners should diligently care for them. For this, you can follow these instructions:
- Feed your Vizsla with quality food; Vizsla needs quality protein to heal properly.
- Ensure that he has fresh water at all times (to avoid kidney problems);
- Provide sufficient time outside;
- Make sure you regularly brush them to remove loose fur because, during the first few days after neuter, Vizsla might experience some discomfort and irritation.
Can You Neuter A Vizsla Later In Life?
Yes, you can neuter a Vizsla later in life, but it is better to do this when the dog reaches puberty (around six months old). The Vet doesn’t recommend neutering Vizslas older than two years because of possible complications during surgery related to their age. Besides, neutering an adult Vizsla will reduce his libido and aggression levels.
If you don’t plan to breed Vizslas, the best time for your Vizsla for spaying or neutering is between four and six months of age. This is because puppies go through a “teaser heat” cycle as early as their first birthday, making them more aggressive. However, there are exceptions, and Vizslas with health problems or certain types of hernias need spaying and neutering later in life.
What Are Other Birth Control Options For Your Vizsla?
Vizslas make good pets for owners who are not ready to have a Vizsla baby. However, Vizslas mature quickly and will start breeding at six months of age, so it is important to keep them spayed or neutered after they reach sexual maturity to prevent unwanted Vizsla litters.
Spaying And Neutering Vizslas
Spaying Vizslas involve removing the uterus and ovaries. The Vet usually prefers to spay Vizslas when they are around six months old, but there is no time limit. You can do take your dog for spaying any time during their life. Vizsla Spaying involves general anesthesia, which has its risks, including death or brain damage from low oxygen rates.
Neutering Vizslas involve removing the testicles and epididymis. Vizsla Neutering does not include general anesthesia, so there is blackout as a risk. Like spaying, male Vizslas are also always ready for neutering, but it is best to wait until they are six months or older.
Contraceptive Pills To Control Birth
Contraceptive pills use megestrol acetate for birth control, which also resolves the false pregnancy, sex-related issues, and skin disorders in your Vizsla by suppressing testosterone production.
Megestrol acetate mimics the hormones of female dogs but is available as antifertility pills. Administered when the dog begins its 2nd heat cycle, it causes a delay in the start to her next cycle. Some side effects of contraceptive pills in Vizslas are weight gain, lethargy, and increased appetite.
Injection For Birth Control Of Vizsla
The injection used to control birth in Vizsla contains medroxyprogesterone acetate that works similar to the contraceptive pills. Usually, this medication has two doses. And it would be best if you shot them these doses at the age of six months and twelve months.
Implants To Control Birth
Implants contain superlorin, a hormone that prevents pregnancy. Vizsla will usually undergo this procedure while still puppies, but some Vizsla owners choose to wait until the Vizsla is in their golden years or has finished with heat cycles before implanting them. So it’s up to you when it comes time for implantation in your Vizsla.
Implants are a good method of birth control for Vizslas that live in colder climates, but Vizsla owners residing in warmer areas should be mindful that it could lead to overheating and sunstroke. Implants can also make Vizslas more aggressive and territorial during heat cycles.
Calcium Chloride Injection
Another option to control the birth in Vizsla is using calcium chloride injection. The injection of calcium chloride will make Vizslas infertile. The injection stays in Vizsla’s body for a month, and after that, Vizslas become fertile again. Ethyl alcohol injection is also a birth control option for your Vizsla that works similarly to calcium chloride.
Barrier Method For Birth Control
In this method, a physical barrier prevents the sperm from coming in contact with the ovum. The barrier could be any of these:
- Intrauterine devices
- Period pantie
- Condoms
- Dog chastity-belt
- Belly band for male dogs
Conclusion
In conclusion, Vizslas are wonderful family pets that make great companions, but Vizslas can be quite aggressive and dangerous. Vizsla spaying or neutering is a simple process that will decrease the chances of Vizslas attacking another animal or person and decrease their aggression when they do become territorial about an area. Vizsla spaying and Vizsla neutering are also important if you live in an area with Vizslas that have rabies.
So, don’t wait for the correct time to spay or neuter your Vizsla. If your Vizsla is already five months old, then consult with the Vet and go for it. I hope this article helped Vizsla owners and potential Vizsla owners to make the right decision when it comes time for Vizslas spaying or neutering.
